How to Make Thyme Simple Syrup with Brown Sugar

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Have you ever tried a traditionally savory herb in a sweet setting? My first experience of this culinary technique was at a now closed coffee shop in Colorado where I tried thyme simple syrup in a latte. I’d heard of bizarre concoctions like basil in ice cream, or spicy chocolate mochas, but herbs in a latte? With coffee? I wasn’t completely reassured by the barista who took so much time to answer my plethora of questions about the menu, but in the end, I decided to trust the suggestion and ordered the seasonal thyme latte. 

From the first sip, I fell in love. If you couldn’t tell from the name of my blog, thyme is one of my favorite flavors. The combination of the fresh, earthy thyme with the dark brown sugar was a perfect blend of savory and herbal sweetness. I finished the drink far before I completed the work tasks I had intended to complete that day. The memory of that drink followed me home, and I started on a quest to recreate a similar brew at home. Since creating this great recipe, it has become a perfect way to add extra flavor and take my latte to the next level! 

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Water
• Brown Sugar
• Fresh Thyme

The star of the drink is a basic simple syrup recipe, which is traditionally made with equal parts of sugar and water. Rather than plain sugar, brown sugar is a great way to compliment the aromatic herb thyme flavor. You could substitute regular white sugar in this recipe. However, I think the brown sugar adds a depth of flavor and complexity to the regular simple syrup that you just can’t get from plain white sugar.  Dried thyme can also be substituted instead of fresh. Use about 1 teaspoon of dried thyme. Dried herbs tend to be stronger in herbal flavor, so you don’t need to use too much thyme for a similar taste.

How to Make Thyme Syrup

Step 1: Gather your fresh herbs. If you have a thyme plant of your own, go ahead and cut 6-8 sprigs of thyme. Mine were about 6” in length each. You can also purchase fresh herbs in your local grocery store, typically in the produce section by the packaged salads.  Rinse the herbs under room temperature water to remove any dirt. Set aside on a clean, dry towel. 

Step 2: Add the brown sugar and cup water to a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves.  

Step 3: Add the fresh thyme sprigs (or dried thyme if using) into the saucepan with the sugar water mixture. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Stir occasionally so the thyme doesn’t stick to the sides or bottom of the pan. Allow to boil for 2-3 minutes. This allows the syrup to thicken slightly.

Step 4: Remove the sauce pan from heat, and set aside. Leave the thyme in the syrup to infuse for about an hour for the best flavor. 

Step 5: Pour the syrup through a fine-mesh strainer into an airtight container or airtight jar, and allow to cool uncovered on the counter for another hour or so. Once cool, you can cover the jar and the syrup will store in the fridge for 2-3 weeks. 

How to use Thyme Simple Syrup:

This thyme syrup recipe is so simple and leaves you with a thyme sugar syrup that can customize a variety of alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks and different cuisines.  Here are a few of my favorite ways to use herb syrups: 

• Thyme Brown Sugar Latte
• Iced coffee
• Homemade cocktail
• Iced tea or hot tea
• Thyme lemonade
• Thyme sorbet
• Glaze a cake
• Fruit salad
• And the list could go on! 

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